Season Review: 2011-12

Finally, a crown for King James

Entering his ninth season in the NBA, LeBron James had garnered just about every accolade and trophy, from MVPs to All-Star appearances to All-NBA bids. The one thing that eluded him, an NBA championship, would finally be in his grasp by the end of the 2011-12 season.

A lockout of the players by the NBA's owners, which began on June 30, 2011, led to the cancellation of the entire preseason as well as hundreds of regular-season games. A resolution was finally reached on Nov. 25, ending the 149-day standoff with the season shortened to 66 games and set to begin on Christmas Day.

James and the Heat made a statement on Christmas Day, handily beating the defending champion Mavericks in Dallas, before rolling to a second consecutive Southeast Division crown and the No. 2 seed in the East.

In the West, the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder waged a season-long battle for the No. 1 spot that eventually went to the Spurs in the final weeks. Led by Tony Parker, coach Gregg Popovich and a team-first mentality, the Spurs tied the Bulls with a league-best 50-16 mark.

While the Heat, Spurs, Thunder and Bulls comprised the elite of the NBA in the 2011-12 season, other once-rebuilding teams made their presence felt in the standings. Indiana, which hadn't posted a season better than .500 since 2004-05, built off a solid playoff showing in 2011 and went 42-24 (.636), earning the No. 3 seed in the East.

The shortened offseason made for a flurry of player movement. Perhaps no move had a greater impact on a team's fortunes than Chris Paul's trade from the Hornets to the Clippers. Behind the All-Star point guard's floor leadership -- as well as the play from reigning Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin -- the Clips went 40-26, challenged the Lakers for the Pacific crown and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06.

Utah, in the midst of a rebuild after trading franchise superstar Deron Williams to New Jersey in the middle of the 2010-11 season, made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the West.

In the postseason, two upsets stood out in the first round. Chicago's hopes of making the step from conference finalist in 2011 to the NBA Finals in 2012 were dashed in Game 1 of its series against Philadelphia. Late in that game, reigning MVP Derrick Rose landed awkwardly on a drive, tearing a knee ligament. He missed the rest of the playoffs and the Bulls were ousted in Game 6.

Paul and the Clippers also scored a minor upset when they stunned the fourth-seeded Grizzlies in Game 7 in Memphis. Eventually, the Heat, Celtics, Thunder and Spurs would reach the respective conference finals, where Miami would outlast Boston in Game 7 while Oklahoma City would rally from a 2-0 series hole to top San Antonio, 4-2.

The Heat might not have made the 2012 Finals were it not for the play of James in the East semifinals and finals. With All-Star forward Chris Bosh hobbled by injury, James took over several games throughout both series (most notably Games 6 and 7 of the East finals) to drive Miami back to the title round.

James, named season MVP in the midst of the playoffs, would not be denied again on the NBA's grand stage. After his Heat fell behind 1-0, he was simply dominant as Miami claimed its second-ever championship in Game 5. In the clincher, James became the fifth player in NBA history to record a triple-double in a championship-clinching game.

His ability to deliver in The Finals helped James to his first Finals MVP trophy and, later that summer, he was key as the U.S. Men's National Team won its second consecutive gold medal at the Olympics, beating Spain 107-100 in the title game.

AWARD WINNERS

Most Valuable Player -- LeBron James, Miami HeatRookie of the Year -- Kyrie Irving, Cleveland CavaliersDefensive Player of the Year -- Tyson Chandler, New York KnicksMost Improved Player -- Ryan Anderson, Orlando MagicSixth Man of the Year -- James Harden, Oklahoma City ThunderCoach of the Year -- Gregg Popovich, San Antonio SpursAll-Star Game MVP -- Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City ThunderFinals MVP -- LeBron James, Miami Heat